by Ariel Zorion
the session, which lasted until eight o'clock in the evening, they went to dinner together. It had been a very intense day, and exhaustion had made its appearance. But it did not matter. They had been too many years apart so that the rest could not wait. That conversation, on the other hand, should not be delayed for another minute.
Luckily, Adrian had a rental car to get around Geneva. They found good restaurants on a mobile app, as the occasion deserved. The decision was very simple, because there was a restaurant of typically Spanish cuisine that was called El Ruedo. In addition, the name was so much fun and typical from Spain at the same time, they did not hesitate for a single moment that it was the best possible option they could find.
No sooner had they passed through the doors of the room, the nostalgia burst again and flooding everything. The decor, the atmosphere, the food, everything reminded them of Spain, the country in which they had grown and that they only visited sporadically, as long as their obligations allowed it. Sofia had a lump in her throat that she found it difficult to control. She had felt especially sensitive since she had opened her eyes in the morning, and that bewildered her. This was not common in her, always so serene and yet absolutely under control. It was hard for her to even recognize herself in the midst of all the boiling of feelings that passed through her body and head during that day. His analytical mind began to explore the possibility that all this was due to some kind of change or hormonal agitation, moving away from the simple condition that being human sometimes implies that feeling is imposed on reason.
- I do not know Sophia, this can not be mere chance. How could we have coincided here at the same time? What real possibilities were there to happen? And I warn you that it is a rhetorical question, I am not asking you for a figure, that I can almost see you start the gears of that tireless mind to make calculations - Adrian said with a slight smile -. Maybe you think it’s something childlike what I say, but I have the strange feeling that destiny has been responsible for a dream come true today.
- Come on, Adrian! Will not a theoretical physicist like you believe the laws of chance now? - She said, trying to be skeptical as her spoken words aloud tried to dispel her own doubts.
- Well, I do not know what to tell you. Right now I doubt everything. In fact, I've been thinking a lot about you this morning. I could not get you out of my head. I kept asking myself where you would be and what would have been in your life. I was so anxious that you were here with me visiting this place with so much meaning for both of us ... And, no offense, because you know how much I appreciate you, but I must admit that I have not remembered you too much in recent years, despite how important you were always for me. This is so disconcerting.
Sophia was hesitant to tell him exactly what had happened to her, adding that she had also dreamed of him that very night. What would he think of her if she told him something like that? No, she just could not do it. However, she had no more doubts about what she had dreamed in her sleep. The inconsistent mist with which she had awakened in the morning had cleared away as the hours passed by and she had come to remember the dream almost clearly.
In their oneiric film, both were about ten years old. They played far from the eyes of the curious, in a remote corner of the schoolyard, to unearth something like a dinosaur, although the toy box specifically said “kit to dig up dinosaurs”, so it could be true. After all, it was a dream and in dreams everything is possible. Adrian had told his friends that he had twisted his ankle the day before and could not play football as he always did at recess. Sofia had invented another excuse, though she could not remember what it was. So absorbed were they in their mission, that they did not even know that the bell had sounded indicating that it was necessary to return to class. While their teacher and the headmaster were looking for them frightened, without Adrian and Sofia being aware of the commotion that had arisen from their absence, they continued immerse themselves in their adventure and promised to spend the rest of their lives together to discover the Mysteries more mind-boggling than anyone could imagine. In that dream, everything was going well for them. There were no dangers. There was no place for boredom. They did not have to endure envy, in some cases, or contempt, in others, of anyone. They had each other and they did not need anyone else. There was their full happiness, pure love and unshakable loyalty.
- Do not worry about it - she finally said -. There's no sense in wasting your time with foolishness of this caliber. We are two reputed scientists. If anyone finds out about this conversation, we will be reviled and cut off from the profession - she pointed out sarcastically.
- Okay, you're right - Adrian said, embarrassed -. Then, let's change the topic. Keep me up to date, because I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
- Well, I don’t know if you remember that I went to Caltech to study.
- Don’t offend me, okay? You have 10 points more than IQ, but that does not give you the right to doubt my memory.
- You're so silly! You have not changed anything in this kind of things - they both laughed -. If you let me go on without interrupting me for feeling your male pride hurt, I'll tell you that I doctored there and continued working there. End of story.
- Okay, but that's not as interesting as you think. Without telling me, I imagined that your career would be a success, but we are friends and I’d like to know how my friend is in life, if she is happy, if she cares about something, if she has married and has ten children
- That seems to gossip, but okay, I agree because then I expect a quid pro quo, so you have to update me too. To your surprise, I’ll tell you that I have no children or husband or partner at this time because, among other things, I was very disappointed a while ago and I continue without wanting to embark on another formal relationship.
- What happened?
- I spent several years dating an architect. We went to live together and decided to get married. We had everything arranged and, suddenly, he decided that he wasn’t made for marriage, neither more nor less. And he left me. Without warning and without any sign that things were wrong. It was an important shock to me, among other things, because he was who convinced me to get married, because I had no interest in doing so. Luckily, we were living for rent and we did not have any possessions in common, so I saved all the lawsuits and troubles of lawyers typical in these situations.
- Wow! What a moron! If I came to find out about this, I would have traveled half a world to break the face of that idiot.
- You always so protective! You really move me. But don’t give it importance, it's already forgotten.
- Well, not so forgotten if that prevents you from getting involved in another relationship.
- Nor is it that I have taken a vow of chastity. I simply get less emotional. And you? Are you married and have 10 children? - She asked smiling.
- No, no, what's up! I have had several relationships in recent years, but none lasting. I guess it's not easy to put up with someone as geeky as I am - he said with a laugh. - But, now, I've been dating a nurse for a few months and I think we're doing pretty well. She understands my schedules and I understand hers, we have more or less similar hobbies and, besides, it has been good for me to settle down a little because I think that, I’m over thirty years and it’s time for less party.
- Well, I'm so glad for you. I'm sure she's a good girl. And I hope she will take great care of you because otherwise, I will cross half a world to break his face.
The evening lasted until late at night. Some subjects carried others incessantly and without pause. Too many years had been separated for two souls like their own, who were in that curious circumstance that is called fate and that science has no tools to explain.
CAPÍTULO 4: SOPHIA
That night they took their leave with the beautiful promise and real intentions of keeping in touch and not allowing time and distance again to drive them away. And that was it. I am sorry but, if you expected me to tell you that something unforgettable happened that night, I think you are going to be disappointe
d. Nothing else happened. Both had to return to their obligations and the plane waits for no one. So everyone went back to their hotel before it was too late.
On the long journey back to the United States, Sophia kept thinking about Adrian and how he was changed. And yet, at the same time, he remained the same, his essence remained unchanged. She was very happy that things were going well to him and because of his happiness in that relationship, though she could not deny herself that she had felt a pang of jealousy and blamed herself for it. She felt selfish and childish. For years, she had not remembered him at all and now she allowed herself the luxury of feeling jealous. It is assumed that a good friend must desire the best unconditionally, it is something inherent in friendship, its purest essence. However, the heart feels what it feels and we can not always control it.
When the plane finally landed at the Los Angeles airport, she felt really exhausted. It had been a long trip, though the only stopover he had to make had been quite short. She wanted to get to her apartment and rest for a while. The next day, she would have to return to the routine without excuses, regardless of the effects that the jet lag would produce. And, indeed, these did not wait. She woke up very early and